I found this one at the trickier end of the spectrum, though these things are very subjective. Nothing overly dastardly from our setter, but I can imagine some of the wordplay causing head scratching for … Read more “Quick Cryptic 912 by Orpheus”
Month: September 2017
Times Cryptic 26822
I found this one quite tricky in parts and needed 54 minutes in all to complete the grid. As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal … Read more “Times Cryptic 26822”
Times Quick Cryptic 911 by Hurley
I couldn’t quite believe how quickly these answers went in. With only 3 left the clock showed 5 minutes. I may have got overexcited as I ended up with 8 minutes. The hold up was … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 911 by Hurley”
Times 26821 – Quirkus Maximus
I rather think they got last Friday and today’s muddled up, or maybe the editor just wanted to give the V an inkling of what it is like to strut one’s stuff when the material … Read more “Times 26821 – Quirkus Maximus”
Times Quick Cryptic 910 by Joker
I needed 11 minutes for this one, with most time lost unaccountably on 4ac. It seems to be a mostly straightforward puzzle but past experience tells me that one can’t always be sure, so I … Read more “Times Quick Cryptic 910 by Joker”
Mephisto 2974 – by Don Manley – rising to the occassion.
Another in a growing sequence of relatively easy puzzles requiring very few references to Chambers. I wonder what say Private Eye might have made of 25D – surely an opportunity to have a little fun? … Read more “Mephisto 2974 – by Don Manley – rising to the occassion.”
Sunday Times 4761 by Dean Mayer
This one had a bit of an unusual feel to it for me, which I think was probably down to the relatively high number of cryptic definition type clues with no associated wordplay – four … Read more “Sunday Times 4761 by Dean Mayer”
Jumbo 1280
I found this one of about average difficulty but of above-average enjoyment, with some quirky clues and amusing wordplay, not least 1A. Apologies for the slight lateness but I’m house-sitting for someone at the moment … Read more “Jumbo 1280”
Times Saturday 26814 – 26 August, 2017. I’ve got a little list!
Perhaps my enjoyment was jaundiced by jet-lag after 23 hours of travel, but there were several clues I found unsatisfying here: 14ac, 4dn, 7dn and perhaps 16dn, not to mention 15ac which is still a … Read more “Times Saturday 26814 – 26 August, 2017. I’ve got a little list!”
Times 26,819: Trains, Planes & Automobiles
Hello from sunny Scotland – I actually have to get up and pack very early tomorrow to catch a train from Kilmarnock to Edinburgh, so you’ll get the shortest possible blog and like it. This … Read more “Times 26,819: Trains, Planes & Automobiles”